Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-12-17
NO. IA.

| prosecutor, the colonel and the detach-
ment of police. Reaching the spot where
his pillow still stood in the furrow, he
pointed to the earth at a box of white
wood slightly disjointed by the dampness,
and IN the side of which the plowshare
had made q hole.
/ The public prosecutor stopped and close
ly examined the object
| There is no possible doubt" said he
| as he resumed an erect position. ''See
for yourself, colonel; it is really a coffin. :"
"A child's coffin,n added the colonel
| 1t is strange, very strange, continued
the public prosecutor, shaking his head
1t is evident that we hold the clew of the
| crime. Colonel, please order the thing to
| be taken up with the greatest care. There
| is nothing more to do now until our re-
turn to town"
The colonel said a few words to Corp.
Poireau, who leaned over the gaping pit
and gently took up the mysterious box,
muttering to himself: "All this is be-
ginning to look very peculiar
On the way back to Briqueville the pro-
secntor said to the colonel:
what vexing coincidence Our ex-
aiming magistrate and our coroner are
away and will be absent until tomorrow.
Now, in a case of this kind, it is my
their return before investigating the mat
ter any further
II believe you are right, replied the
colonel. Besides, this is not a case that
demands an immediate examination. This
coffin has been buried fully ten or twelve
months; delay of twenty-four hours can
surely do no harm"
1t was therefore decided that they
would await the return of the Judge and
the coroner. In depositing the object
upon the office table Corp. Poireau gave
a start.
'Hellon exclaimed he, "here is some
thing most superlatively peculiar''
'What is 1T" asked the colonel
See for yourself, colonel A piece of
linen is sticking out Of the hole made by
the plowshare, and there is mark on the
end of it.n
That's so!' said the colonel. ''Well!
well! that criminal does not seem to have
been very shrewd, Still, how can we find
out whose name these initials stand for?n
Anyhow" suggested the public prose
cutor, there is one thing we can do. Let
us send for the five or six laundresses that
are in Briqueville If l mistake not, one
of them will give us clew"
ga good idear' exclaimed the colonel,
"a very gsod idea
An hour later the six Briqueville wash
erwomen were collected together, and
each, in turn, held her nose between her
thumb and forefinger as she stopped over
the strange, inodorous box, from which
hung the bit of linen that was to bring all
their sagacity into play.
Suddenly one of them exclaimed:
II know the mark 1t is Mile. Aglae's
linen"
''Who is Mile. Aglae?'
"a customer of mine who died about
two years ago.
''Do you know what has become of her
linens''
''Why, of course / do. Her servant in
herited of her clothes as well as of every
thing else. She now resides in the house
of her dead mistress
The public prosecutor and the colonel
exchanged look of triumph.
Just then Corp. Poireau, who had
been examining the box very closely, ex-
eleirned: "Why, this is still more pc
culiar''
What is the matter now'' asked the
colonel
'The matter is, colonel, think / per
ceive the end of bone. You may see for
yourself, colonel, it is really the end of a
bone"
$50 it isl said the colonel. Look.
Monsieur lie Procureur, and see if it
isn'tn
The public prosecutor did as directed.
For little while he had felt somewhat
excited over the turn affairs were taking.
The case was becoming more and more
interesting. It was lucky windfall to
him. He sat down and scrubbed few
words on piece of paper.
Take this to the telegraph Office, y said
ne sit is n dispatch to the minister Of
justice And now added he, complacent-
ly rubbing his hands together, 1--WE shall
leave this box to be opened by the exam
lining magistrate and the coroner They
will find their work already done for them.
As for you, worthy woman, lead the way
to the house you spoke OFF,
AS they went along the attorney could
not conceal his satisfaction.
''Well, colonel, what do you think? We
have got fine case, haven't wef''
"a fine case, indeed" replied the
colonel. "a first class murderl That will
be toothsome morsel for the juryr'